USC All-American Carsten Vissering is studying abroad in Australia for the fall semester, but will return to Southern Cal in time for the NCAA postseason.
Vissering has been notably absent from USC meet results so far this year, and the school confirmed this week that Vissering is in Brisbane, Australia this semester studying abroad. USC said that Vissering “is still keeping in shape and should be ready to go to contribute to a great spring semester when he returns.”
The absence is notable, as Vissering is the top returner from NCAAs in the 100 breaststroke, an event that is considered wide open for NCAA title hopefuls. He went 51.40 in the final last year to take third, and champion Will Licon and runner-up Fabian Schwingenschlogl are both graduated.
Vissering also did not compete at all over the summer, based on registered swims in USA Swimming’s database. That means when he returns in January, he will have been out of competition since March of 2017 – more than 9 months off of racing.
Vissering is still listed on the USC roster despite not competing with the team this semester. If he returns by the start of spring semester, Vissering’s potential return date could be January 15 in a home dual with Wisconsin, depending on whether he’s ready to compete at that point. USC is currently 5-0, with the Texas Invite (Nov 29-Dec 2) the last meet on the team’s fall semester calendar.
This is somewhat off topic for this board but an issue relevant to USC sports fans because it opens some wounds that are now 10 years old. To Trojan fans, because their football related sanctions handed down to USC were the most severe since the SMU “death penalty”, the NCAA is viewed as Mordor. In the words of Boromir in LOTR: “There is evil there that does not sleep and the Great Eye is ever watchful” Ever watchful of what USC does, not so much toward what other D1 football and basketball schools do. Basically the inconsistency of felony penalties for misdemeanors and misdemeanor penalties for felonies. USC got the felony penalty.
Ah, but there is the One Ring.… Read more »
The only winners will be the lawyers
Happy he’s bettering himself in his studies and his swimming! Carsten is one cool dude
Carsten has been staying in good shape – weight lifting, playing water polo, wrestling professional Australian Rules Football players (they were scared of him), swimming and, most importantly, helping Kings College end up in third place in the 2017 Dancefest competition. He said he’s looking forward to coming back to USC stronger than he’s ever been and being part of the winning medley relay team at NCAAs. He appreciates Coach Salo being flexible and letting him have this experience.
Thanks for the update, mom.
And how is the “studying” portion of his studying abroad going?
Well – 16 credits related to his Global Studies degree and research on legal rights of indigenous populations.
I’m sure he’s training hard in Australia
He also did not compete (or enroll) in the fall of his freshman year. If the coach has no problem with it, then good for him. Just can’t have the whole team doing it I suppose.
They do that for scholarship reasons too! A way around the NCAA rules
Can you elaborate?
USC doesn’t have to spend a full years scholarship on him since he will only be at USC for 1/2 the year. It’s a way to save money but still have all your swimmers eligible to compete the 2nd semester which means conference and NCAAs. If you can pull it off it can really give you an advantage. The problem is that it’s almost impossible to do.
Art answered your questioned? USC and Salo have used this tactic before…..it isn’t illegal but other coaches may think it is ‘shady’. not sure how they stay eligible from one year to the next? maybe go to summer school? i am guessing Carsten’s parents can afford to send him overseas on their dime so no eating athletic money but still keeping up his ‘credits’
on a different note, don’t see this doing much for his 200 breast which had already been shaky in recent years!
Illegal would seem a bit harsh…
without more information these comments seem pretty unfair… as far as academics, if the kid is studying abroad like any other student why should that impact eligibility? And if another kid is on campus but not taking scholarship money, if anything they’re probably studying more. In terms of swimming — last I heard, Australia has a lot of pools and some pretty good coaches… I’d be very curious to hear what he’s been up to.
To all of you wondering how a semester abroad could affect such a swimmer:
CARSTEN VISSERING SPLITS 22.58, FASTEST EVER, FOR USC 200 MR WIN